Last week, students from Providence Academy in Minnesota sparked a Chicago White Sox chant in Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV drove through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile; and the Chicago-born pontiff joined in.
Gathering in the famous piazza for a papal general audience, the Providence Academy students began chanting “White Sox! White Sox! White Sox!” as the pope passed near them. In response, the pontiff waved, pumped his fist, and briefly echoed the cheer.
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The students, who are actually fans of the Minnesota Twins, spoke to Fox 9 about the moment, saying it was “one of those experiences that you never would expect to happen in a million years.” Providence Academy is a private, Catholic school in Plymouth, Minn.
The White Sox chants at St. Peter’s Square have since spread across social media and news platforms. Just days before, the pope wore a White Sox cap during a General Audience in the piazza.
The first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has long been a White Sox fan. Born Robert Francis Prevost in 1955, the future pontiff grew up in Dolton, Ill., a Chicago suburb near the city’s South Side. Prevost was elected the Bishop of Rome on May 8, 2025, after Pope Francis’s death the month before.
Since his election, the pope’s brother has confirmed that Pope Leo is a White Sox fan and images of the pontiff attending Game 1 of the 2005 World Series have gone viral. (The Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 4-0 in the series).
Additionally, the pope’s image has been added to a well-known mural outside Rate Field, the White Sox’s stadium.
Last week, the team honored Pope Leo with a Catholic Mass at Rate Field which featured a video message from the pope and was attended by roughly 30,000 people. Further, the White Sox have invited Pope Leo to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a future baseball game, though no date has been confirmed.
Symone Harms
Symone Harms is a Media Production and Business Marketing student at Bethel University. She is actively involved in The Royals Investment Fund, The 25, theatre, and other leadership positions. She also cohosts Rooted, a podcast dedicated to being rooted in truth, growing in freedom, and prospering in life. A Minnesota native with a passion for storytelling and digital media, she aspires to a career in broadcasting as a news anchor and reporter.
